Clowning around the globe to aid hungry kids

Sybil Blau

Published 3:42 pm, Thursday, January 16, 2014

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Gerard Brooker is seen here visiting with an orphan in Vietnam. Brooker has traveled to more than 100 countries to raise awareness about the plight of children who are hungry, or who have suffered because of wars or other tragic circumstances. When called upon, he uses the art of clowning to bring some joy to these children. less

Gerard Brooker is seen here visiting with an orphan in Vietnam. Brooker has traveled to more than 100 countries to raise awareness about the plight of children who are hungry, or who have suffered because of ... more

Photo: Contributed Photo

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Gerard Brooker receives a kiss on the cheek from a tiny tot in Haiti. Brooker has traveled to more than 100 countries to raise awareness about the plight of children who are hungry, or who have suffered because of wars or other tragic circumstances. When called upon, he uses the art of clowning to bring some joy to these children. less

Gerard Brooker receives a kiss on the cheek from a tiny tot in Haiti. Brooker has traveled to more than 100 countries to raise awareness about the plight of children who are hungry, or who have suffered because ... more

Photo: Contributed Photo

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Gerard Brooker, third from right in the back row, has traveled to more than 100 countries to raise awareness about the plight of children who are hungry, or who have suffered because of wars or other tragic circumstances. When called upon, he uses the art of clowning to bring some joy to these children. He is seen here with others who were helping in that mission in Vietnam. less

Gerard Brooker, third from right in the back row, has traveled to more than 100 countries to raise awareness about the plight of children who are hungry, or who have suffered because of wars or other tragic ... more

Gerard Brooker works on his computer in his home office in Bethel, Conn. on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014. Brooker has traveled to more than 100 countries to raise awareness about the plight of children who are hungry and have suffered because of wars. When called upon, Brooker uses the art of clowning to bring some joy to these children. less

Gerard Brooker works on his computer in his home office in Bethel, Conn. on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014. Brooker has traveled to more than 100 countries to raise awareness about the plight of children who are ... more

Gerard Brooker works on his computer in his home office in Bethel, Conn. on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014. Brooker has traveled to more than 100 countries to raise awareness about the plight of children who are hungry and have suffered because of wars. When called upon, Brooker uses the art of clowning to bring some joy to these children. less

Gerard Brooker works on his computer in his home office in Bethel, Conn. on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014. Brooker has traveled to more than 100 countries to raise awareness about the plight of children who are ... more

Gerard Brooker works on his computer in his home office in Bethel, Conn. on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014. Brooker has traveled to more than 100 countries to raise awareness about the plight of children who are hungry and have suffered because of wars. When called upon, Brooker uses the art of clowning to bring some joy to these children. less

Gerard Brooker works on his computer in his home office in Bethel, Conn. on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014. Brooker has traveled to more than 100 countries to raise awareness about the plight of children who are ... more

Gerard Brooker works on his computer in his home office in Bethel, Conn. on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014. Brooker has traveled to more than 100 countries to raise awareness about the plight of children who are hungry and have suffered because of wars. When called upon, Brooker uses the art of clowning to bring some joy to these children. less

Gerard Brooker works on his computer in his home office in Bethel, Conn. on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014. Brooker has traveled to more than 100 countries to raise awareness about the plight of children who are ... more

Gerard Brooker works on his computer in his home office in Bethel, Conn. on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014. Brooker has traveled to more than 100 countries to raise awareness about the plight of children who are hungry and have suffered because of wars. When called upon, Brooker uses the art of clowning to bring some joy to these children. less

Gerard Brooker works on his computer in his home office in Bethel, Conn. on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014. Brooker has traveled to more than 100 countries to raise awareness about the plight of children who are ... more

Gerard Brooker works on his computer in his home office in Bethel, Conn. on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014. Brooker has traveled to more than 100 countries to raise awareness about the plight of children who are hungry and have suffered because of wars. When called upon, Brooker uses the art of clowning to bring some joy to these children. less

Gerard Brooker works on his computer in his home office in Bethel, Conn. on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014. Brooker has traveled to more than 100 countries to raise awareness about the plight of children who are ... more

In 1979, Bethel resident Gerard Brooker was an English teacher at Staples High School in Westport. When two students won a poster design contest, they asked his advice on what to do with their $25 prize.

He suggested they use it to aid starving children in Vietnam. After that, he developed a growing awareness of children who need food throughout the world. Since that time, and with help from others, he's helped raise more than $1 million for hungry children.

Fundraising, however, is not his ultimate goal. He aims to raise awareness about the existence of these children. For the last three years, he has used the art of clowning and morphs into Jerry the Clown to help carry out his mission.

Brooker recently returned from Jordan, which has more than 500,000 Syrian refugees. He visited at the request of his friend, Patch Adams, the internationally renowned doctor, activist and clown.

The two men and 17 other volunteer "clowns," spent time at seven camps "to bring some joy and laughter to the kids in them," he said.

Why did they clown for the kids? Through clowning, "We do what we can to make children laugh," he explained. "Anything to try to lessen the trauma they have experienced.

More Information

About Gerard BrookerAuthor of 10 books, the latest being "Short Stories and Essays: Musings of a Man Held Captive by His Imagination" Represented Connecticut at the China-USA Education Conferenece in Beijing in 1997Inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in 1998In 2006, earned the Haiti Lumiere De Demain "Bearer of Light" Award

"Some of the children, for example, in the Zaatari Refugee Camp, have seen their parents tortured, some have seen their fathers have their throats slashed. They needed to forget, even if for a few minutes, the pain they endure."

In a wrenching description, Brooker, his voice near-breaking, remembered the toddler he held in that camp as the boy's mother hovered near.

"He seemed to melt into my chest," he said. "It was the first time since his dad was killed that he relaxed."

That he's chosen clowning as his way to aid kids is not entirely out of character for him, said his longtime friend, Dan Sullivan, also a former Staples teacher.

"The idea of him with a big red nose is delightful. Clowning is Jerry's way. He cares for people," Sullivan said.

Brooker, a teacher at Staples for 25 years and the father of four with his first wife, Marcia, was introduced to clowning while on a mission to North Korea. Joseph Mungus (whose clown name is Mungus Fungus) was touring with a group that believes clowning is a healing art, said Brooker. "He asked me to join in."

That connection led Brooker to Adams because Mungus (a friend of Adams) shared some of Brooker's anti-war poems with him. Adams then read some at presentations he gave, and when looking for seasoned clowns for a new mission, he asked Mungus to invite Brooker along.

Though Brooker has never attended a class on clowning, he has acquired a skill or two by looking and listening to those who regularly clown for needy kids.

"I've learned when to back off when kids are frightened by clowns, and I've been developing my own style," Brooker said. "For example, I am a quiet clown. I'm introduced to the elders in a refugee camp, take photos of the children and show them their picture, for some that perhaps is the first time.

"I also use a few gimmicks like over-sized glasses and blowing bubbles, something the little kids really love," he said.

Brooker, a native of Queens, N.Y., who was close to becoming a monk, but left that idea behind for more earthly pursuits, is helped in his choice of clown-worthy clothing by his second wife of 25 years, Sheila.

"She shops for me at secondhand stores to buy colorful pants and shirts and the like that do not fit me, you know, the baggy-pants-look that I like," Booker said.

There's more to Brooker than his efforts to eliminate childhood hunger. He works to bring young people together for the sake of peace, a desire that has taken him throughout the world.

To date, Brooker, has been on all seven continents and in more than 100 countries, teaching, advocating and lecturing, at times representing the U.S. and Connecticut. Honored many times for his work, he's often invited as a special guest.

Brooker's life philosophy is simple, but not easy.

"Throw a pebble into a pond and watch it ripple," he said. The implication: If you help hungry kids to eat, or set an example of working for the benefit of people, others will do the same. And, don't forget to help people heal, "make 'em laugh."